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==Construction==
==Construction==
Currently, the former parking lot beside the campus is undergoing a massive construction project. Expected to be available for use in 2009, the new multi-level [[parking structure]] will be easily accessible from Sepulveda boulevard. Another construction project well under way is the new Milken Community Middle School. It will be located on what used to be one of the athletic facilities, colloquially called West Campus. The middle school is expected to be completed by 2009.
Currently, the former parking lot beside the campus is undergoing a massive construction project. Expected to be available for use in , the new multi-level [[parking structure]] will be easily accessible from Sepulveda boulevard. Another construction project well under way is the new Milken Community Middle School. It will be located on what used to be one of the athletic facilities, colloquially called West Campus. The middle school is expected to be completed by 2009.


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 05:35, 16 October 2008

34°07′31.91″N 118°28′40.38″W / 34.1255306°N 118.4778833°W / 34.1255306; -118.4778833

Milken Community High School
Address
Map
15800 Zeldins' Way, Los Angeles, California, 90049

,
 USA
Information
TypePrivate, coeducational 7-12
Religious affiliation(s)Jewish
Established1990
Facultyapprox. 120
Enrollmentapprox. 800
Color(s)Blue and White   
MascotWildcats
NewspaperThe Roar
Websitewww.milkenschool.org
Milken Community High School

Milken Community High School, colloquially Milken, is a private Jewish High School. It is located on Mulholland Drive in the Bel-Air area of Los Angeles, California.

Though it is affiliated with the Reform Stephen S. Wise Temple, it is officially non-denominational.

The school's middle school spans grades 7 through 8, while the high school spans 9 through 12. Currently, about 200 students are enrolled in the middle school, while 600 students are enrolled in the high school, making it the largest Jewish day school in the United States.

Programs

The school prides itself on several self-styled Centers of Excellence, including the Stephen S. Wise Music Academy and Los Angeles Youth Orchestra, its Educational Technology and Broadcast Studio Program, its Wildcats Athletics Program, the Advanced Jewish Studies Center, and the Mitchell Academy of Science and Technology. Other student organizations include The Roar student newspaper, the student-run Yearbook committee, the Writes of Passage literary club, Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), Junior Statesmen of America, Robotics "Team", WISE, the Friendship Circle Club, and Model United Nations, among others.
The School's robotics team won the FIRST Los Angeles rookie award in 2006 and the team won the Los Angeles spirit award in 2008.
The school has a Mexico Exchange Program, an Israel Exchange Program (exclusively for the 8th Grade) and a monumental four month study abroad experience in Israel, called the Tiferet Israel Fellowship, based at Alexander Muss High School.

Tiferet Israel Fellowship

Tiferet Israel Fellowship

In partnership with the Alexander Muss Institute for Israel Education (AMIIE), MCHS offers an exciting and historic opportunity for students to learn and live in Israel for the Spring semester of the 10th grade. Through a full academic program, schedule of tiyyulim (field study and trips), personalized Chuggim (individualized activities) and partnership with Israeli teens, Tiferet Israel Fellows learn inside and outside of the classroom and build relationships with the land and people of Israel.

Academics

The academic departments are English, Social Sciences, Science, Mathematics, Jewish Studies, Hebrew, World Languages (Spanish, French, Latin, Chinese), Health, Information Technology and Media Studies, Physical Education, Visual Arts, Theatre Arts, and Music. All departments offer elective courses.

Judaism

All students are required to take four years of Hebrew, of which 18 different levels are offered. Four years of Jewish studies are also required, offered at regular, honors, and high honors levels (9th-Jewish Law, 10th-Chumash, 11th-Jewish Law, 12th-Jewish Thought). Minyan takes place once a week, with varied options such as traditional-egalitarian, yoga, social action, meditation, liberal, doubters, and others. An optional daily Mincha minyan is also offered. Through the Advanced Jewish Studies Center (AJSC), numerous Judaic electives are offered, including comparative religions, intensive Talmud study, comparative film, and others. Kivuns, in which guest speakers lecture students on topics relating to Judaism, are offered every week or two, of which each student must attend two each semester.

Milken, unlike Stephen S. Wise Elementary, does not directly affiliate itself with Reform Judaism or any stream of Judaism in specific. It aims to cater to all streams and levels of observance of Judaism.

Administration and Faculty

Milken's faculty and administration are extremely qualified in the subjects they teach, many holding advanced degrees including Masters and Ph.Ds. The administration consists of:

Director of Education - Metuka Benjamin, MA
Head of School - Jason L. Ablin, MA
Assistant Head of School - Jonathan Cassie, MA
Upper School Principal - Roger Fuller, MA
Upper School Rabbinic Director - Rabbi Gordon Bernat-Kunin, Ph.D
Middle School Principal - Dr. Sarah Shulkind, Ed.D
Middle School Rabbinic Director - Rabbi Sarah Brandes

Dean of Students, Class of 2009, John Fowler, MA
Dean of Students, Class of 2010, Shelley Rossoff, MA
Dean of Students, Class of 2011, Dr. Kimberly Schwartz, Ph.D
Dean of Students, Class of 2012, Francine Landau, MA
Middle School Assistant Principal, Elizabeth Echternach, MA

Director of Student Support Services, Lori Strauss, L.C.S.W.
Coordinator of Academic Support Services, Grades 10-12, Georgianne Cutter, L.C.S.W.
Coordinator of Academic Support Services, Grades 7-9, Jennifer Spellman, MS
School Counselor, Grades 10-12, Aviva Wolfson
School Counselor, Grades 7-9, Debbie Richards

Director of Institutional Advancement, Rebecca Steinberg, MA
Director of Admission, Gabrielle McHale, MA
Associate Director of Admission, Amy Miller, MA

Director of Student Life, Caren Heller
Director of Alumni Affairs, Emily Klein
Director of WISE, Ingrid Guth, MA
Director of College Counseling, Joseph Blasberg
Associate Director of College Counseling, Kristen Pett
Associate Director of College Counseling, Jennifer Lee
Director of Service Learning, Wendy Ordower
Asst. Director of Service Learning and Yozma Coordinator, Carolyn Camras, J.D.
Rabbi in Residence, Rabbi Shawn Fields-Meyer
Director of Technology and Information Services, David Lam
Director of Education Technology, Scott Perloff

Director of Athletics, K-12, Jason Kelly, MA
Director of Music, K-12, Dr. Russell Steinberg, Ph.D

Publications Coordinator, Jane St. Clair
Logistics and Events Coordinator, Scott Appel
Programs and Events Coordinator, Amanda Cohn
Director of Operations, Lonnie Mayfield
Operations Manager, Maryann Baum
Financial Analyst, Valerie Shane

Naming

The school began as the Golda Meir School and was renamed the Einstein Academy. When the school became affiliated with Stephen S. Wise Temple, it was renamed Stephen S. Wise High School. After a large donation from the Milken Family Foundation the school was named Milken Community High School.

Athletics

The Track Team, after expanding to over 60 team members this year, once again won league champions led by their Coach, Richard Rucker.

The Milken basketball team which is is led by Mr. Michael Whiting has had enormous success. He has led his teams to:

  • CIF SS Playoffs 18 out of 19 years
  • 10 League Championships
  • Heritage League “Coach of the Year” 2003-2004
  • Four CIF SS Final Four Appearances (for three Schools)
  • One CIF SS Championship
  • One State Finals Appearance

Many Wildcats have been NCAA athletes[1]:

  • Romy Barber - UCSB - Soccer
  • Bobby Bassman - Penn - Basketball
  • Aaron Benditson - Cal State Northridge - Soccer
  • Benjamin Benditson - Los Angeles Galaxy - Soccer
  • Adam Cunningham - UNC - Cross Country
  • Ashley Finkel - Carnegie Mellon - Basketball
  • Stephen Goldsmith - Springfield - Soccer
  • Phillip Goodman - Georgetown University - Heavyweight Crew
  • Shaun Gordon-Farnoosh - NYU - Soccer
  • Sheera Goren - University of Michigan - Soccer
  • Justin Green - Cornell University - Football
  • Lauren Grifka - Columbia - Basketball
  • Rachel Gross - Pudget Sound - Volleyball
  • Michael Grosz - Pomona - Swimming
  • Melanle Hendel - NYU - Tennis
  • Rose Foran - Johns Hopkins University - Fencing
  • Brandon Kopald - University of Wisconsin-Madison - Triathlon
  • Matthew Kopald - Northwestern - Water Polo
  • Michael Kramer - UCSB - Swimming
  • Zach Rutta - University of Miami - Baseball
  • Shira Saiger - Yale - Waterpolo
  • Cary Schwartz - Skidmore - Tennis
  • Drew Steinberg - Haverford - Volleyball
  • Craig Weinstein - American University - Basketball
  • Andrea Weintraub - Indiana - Swimming

Robotics

The school's robotics team (FIRST robotics team 1836) the Milken Knights has won two awards. The Southern California rookie award in 2006 and the Los Angeles spirit award in 2008.

Construction

Currently, the former parking lot beside the campus is undergoing a massive construction project. Expected to be available for use in December of 2008, the new multi-level parking structure will be easily accessible from Sepulveda boulevard. Another construction project well under way is the new Milken Community Middle School. It will be located on what used to be one of the athletic facilities, colloquially called West Campus. The middle school is expected to be completed by June 2009.

References